Sunday 9-8-19 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

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PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals LH Mike Montgomery (3-7, 4.42 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Sandy Alcantara (4-12, 4.26)

Montgomery allowed one or zero earned runs in four of his last five starts, including Tuesday against Detroit in which he let up a run over 5 2/3 innings. He has 29 strikeouts against nine walks in that span, including an interleague outing against the New York Mets in which the 30-year-old yielded one unearned run in six frames. Montgomery sports a 1.93 ERA in seven career games (one start) against the Marlins.

Alcantara finished at least seven innings in four of his last five outings but has an 0-2 record to show for it. He let up just three hits but was reached for four runs in a no-decision at Pittsburgh on Tuesday. The Dominican Republic native, who turned 24 on Saturday, will be facing the Royals for the first time.

WALK-OFFS

1. Soler has six home runs and 13 RBIs over his last 13 games.

2. Marlins C Jorge Alfaro is 16-for-29 over his last eight home contests.

3. Kansas City has won six of eight all time in Miami.

PREDICTION: Royals 4, Marlins 3

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PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks RH Mike Leake (11-10, 4.71 ERA) vs. Reds RH Anthony DeSclafani (9-8, 4.10)

Leake has earned victories in his last two starts, allowing six runs over 13 2/3 innings combined, after going winless in his first four outings (0-2) with Arizona. The 31-year-old Arizona State product owns a 6.43 ERA with the Diamondbacks after going 9-8 in 22 starts with a 4.27 ERA while in a Seattle uniform. Joey Votto is 9-for-23 with three doubles and three RBIs against Leake, who is 3-7 with a 5.80 ERA on the road versus 8-3 and 3.74 at home this year.

DeSclafani gave up four runs on three hits (two homers) against Philadelphia in a loss Monday after permitting two total runs in his previous three turns. The 29-year-old New Jersey native boasts 147 strikeouts over 142 2/3 innings, but has served up a career-most 27 homers in 27 starts this season. DeSclafani is 6-4 with a 3.71 ERA in 13 outings at Great American Ball Park in 2019 as opposed to 3-4 with a 4.48 mark in 14 starts on the road.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Reds claimed LHP Wandy Peralta on waivers from the San Francisco Giants and activated C Juan Graterol from the concussion list.

2. Arizona OF Tim Locastro stole his 20th base Saturday in his 20th major league attempt, tying Jackie Bradley Jr. for the fourth-most without being thrown out to open a career.

3. Diamondbacks 3B Eduardo Escobar had two hits Saturday to reach 800 in his career and needs two runs for 400.

PREDICTION: Reds 5, Diamondbacks 4

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PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Vince Velasquez (6-7, 4.80 ERA) vs. Mets RH Noah Syndergaard (10-7, 3.97)

Velasquez held the Cincinnati Reds to one run and four hits on Tuesday but only completed three innings and was held out of the decision. The 27-year-old completed six innings once in 13 starts since returning to the rotation in mid-June and owns a 5.28 ERA in that span. Velasquez was solid in two starts against New York this season, allowing a total of two runs and striking out nine in 10 total innings.

Syndergaard bounced back from a dud against the Cubs by holding the Washington Nationals to three hits and striking out 10 in seven scoreless innings on Monday. The 27-year-old yielded two or fewer runs in six of his last seven turns, with the lone outlier the three-inning stint against Chicago on Aug. 28 in which he was ripped for 10 runs - nine earned. Syndergaard is 1-0 in two starts against Philadelphia this season despite allowing a total of nine runs and 16 hits in 10 frames.

WALK-OFFS

1. Mets INF Jed Lowrie (leg) made his season debut on Saturday and struck out in a pinch-hitting appearance.

2. Phillies RF Bryce Harper (hand) sat out Saturday after being hit by a pitch on Friday and remains day-to-day.

3. Philadelphia C J.T. Realmuto recorded multiple hits in four of his last five games.

PREDICTION: Mets 6, Phillies 2

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PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays RH Jacob Waguespack (4-3, 3.97 ERA) vs. Rays RH Tyler Glasnow (6-1, 1.86)

Waguespack has struggled in consecutive starts since limiting the Los Angeles Dodgers to one hit and one walk with five strikeouts over seven innings on Aug. 22. The 25-year-old Louisiana native yielded nine runs (five earned) on seven hits and seven walks across seven innings in his last two trips to the mound versus Atlanta. Travis d’Arnaud is 2-for-5 with a double against Waguespack, who is 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA in three appearances (two starts) versus the Rays this year.

Glasnow is expected to go about two innings as the opener in his first appearance on a major league mound since May 10 when he suffered his only loss of the season. The 26-year-old California native completed 2 1/3 innings in two outings with Triple-A Durham, allowing two hits and three walks with three strikeouts before being recalled. Rowdy Tellez is 3-for-6 with two homers versus Glasnow, who was 0-2 with a 7.41 ERA in four starts against the Blue Jays last season.

WALK-OFFS

1. Tampa Bay OF Austin Meadows has hit safely in seven straight games overall (13-for-24) and is batting .443 against Toronto this year.

2. Blue Jays rookie SS Bo Bichette is 0-for-8 with three strikeouts the last two games after homering twice in the series opener.

3. Rays LF Tommy Pham (right flexor strain) returned after missing two contests and extended his hitting streak to seven games (12-for-27).

PREDICTION: Rays 4, Blue Jays 3

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PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Max Scherzer (9-5, 2.60 ERA) vs. Braves RH Mike Soroka (11-3, 2.53)

Scherzer makes his fourth start since returning from a back injury that sent him to the injured list for almost a month, and he reached 90 pitches in six innings Tuesday against the New York Mets. The 35-year-old gave up four runs on five hits with one walk and seven strikeouts to New York, after surrendering only three runs on 10 hits with 11 strikeouts across 8 1/3 innings in his first two starts after coming back. Scherzer, who has not faced Atlanta this season, is 9-7 in 22 career appearances (20 starts) with a 3.76 ERA and 1.20 WHIP.

Soroka, who leads the majors in homers allowed per nine innings (0.6), gave up two longballs Monday against Toronto, but earned his first victory since July 14 by allowing three runs on five hits with six strikeouts in five innings. The 22-year-old entered Saturday second in the NL in ERA, and since the All-Star break has pitched to a 2.70 ERA and 1.17 WHIP in 10 starts. Soroka, whose ERA is vastly higher at home (4.02 in 11 starts) than away (1.44 in 14 starts), is 0-1 in three starts this season against the Nationals with five runs allowed on 13 hits in 15 innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Washington RHP Aaron Barrett made his first appearance in the majors since Aug. 5, 2015, pitching a scoreless fifth inning with one walk and one strikeout.

2. Atlanta starting pitchers in the first three games of the series (Max Fried, Dallas Keuchel and Julio Teheran) have combined to allow one run on 10 hits in 19 innings with three walks and 20 strikeouts.

3. Soto has driven in 17 runs in his past 14 games with eight doubles, one triple, four homers, seven walks and 16 runs scored in that span.

PREDICTION: Nationals 3, Braves 0

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PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Jack Flaherty (9-7, 3.14 ERA) vs. Pirates RH James Marvel (NR)

Flaherty has been dominant in the second half of the season and breezed through eight scoreless innings against San Francisco on Tuesday, surrendering one hit and striking out eight in the win. The 23-year-old owned a 4.90 ERA after getting knocked around at Seattle on July 2 but turned his season around from there and owns a 0.90 ERA while holding opponents to a .141 batting average over his last 11 starts. Flaherty last saw Pittsburgh on July 16 and scattered one run and three hits over seven innings while striking out eight.

Marvel is making his major league debut after breezing through the top two levels of the minors. The 25-year-old former 36th-round draft pick went 7-0 with a 2.67 ERA in 11 starts after being promoted to Triple-A Indianapolis and tossed five scoreless innings in his last outing at Louisville on Monday. Marvel excels at keeping the ball in the ballpark and surrendered three home runs in 60 2/3 innings for Indianapolis.

WALK-OFFS

1. Former Cardinals 1B/OF Chris Duncan, 38, died late Friday after a battle with brain cancer.

2. Pittsburgh 2B Adam Frazier is 17-for-36 in his last nine games.

3. St. Louis C Yadier Molina hit safely in each of his last 14 starts.

PREDICTION: Cardinals 5, Pirates 0

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PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs LH Jon Lester (12-9, 4.19 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Adrian Houser (6-5, 3.45)

Lester allowed six hits and four walks with nine strikeouts in six shutout innings of a 6-1 victory versus Seattle on Tuesday. The 35-year-old Washington native was also sharp in his previous start, yielding one run over six innings of a 4-1 victory over the Mets in New York on Aug. 29. Yelich is 6-for-16 versus Lester, who is 5-3 with a 2.10 ERA in 10 starts against the Brewers - 1-0 with zero earned runs allowed in two starts over 13 2/3 innings this season.

Houser has yielded one earned run in six of seven starts since rejoining the rotation. The 26-year-old Oklahoma native's only blemish during that span was a 7-2 loss to Chicago at Wrigley Field on Aug. 4, when he permitted four runs and nine hits over five innings. Houser has a 1.29 WHIP and .252 batting average against with 93 strikeouts and 32 walks across 91 1/3 innings this season.

WALK-OFFS

1. Milwaukee C Yasmani Grandal has homered in three straight games and is 8-for-21 with four home runs, five RBIs and six runs scored in his last five contests.

2. Yelich on Saturday also walked three times and swiped second on each occasion as he became the 10th player in major league history to hit 40 home runs (44) and steal 30 bases (30) in a season.

3. The season series is tied 9-9 entering Sunday's finale.

PREDICTION: Cubs 3, Brewers 2

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PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Mike Clevinger (10-2, 2.71 ERA) vs. Twins TBD

Clevinger allowed two runs on two hits and four walks with nine strikeouts over seven innings against the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday before the bullpen denied him of a 10th straight win. The 28-year-old Florida native, who boasts 132 strikeouts across 93 innings in 2019, is 9-0 with a 1.93 ERA since July 1 and has not suffered a defeat since June 28. Miguel Sano has three doubles and a homer versus Clevinger, who is 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA in two starts against Minnesota this year.

The last time this spot came up in the rotation, right-hander Randy Dobnak struck out two in a scoreless first inning and five relievers followed before the Twins beat Boston 6-5. Minnesota could use the same formula or hand the ball to Smeltzer (1-2, 4.00 ERA), who has not pitched in the majors since earning a four-inning save against Texas on Aug. 15. The 24-year-old has pitched against the Indians twice this season, allowing 11 runs on 12 hits (four homers) over 10 2/3 innings in a pair of losses.

WALK-OFFS

1. Cleveland SS Francisco Lindor, who has homered twice against Smeltzer, owns multiple hits in four of his last seven games.

2. Minnesota INF/OF Luis Arraez is 10-for-23 with four doubles during his current six-game hitting streak.

3. Twins DH Nelson Cruz (wrist) sat out Saturday, but could be back in the lineup for the series finale.

PREDICTION: Indians 6, Twins 2

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PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners RH Felix Hernandez (1-5, 6.02 ERA) vs. Astros RH Gerrit Cole (15-5, 2.81)

Hernandez allowed two runs, two hits and four walks with five strikeouts over three innings of a 6-1 loss to the Cubs in Chicago on Tuesday. This could be the final season for the 33-year-old Venezuelan and former Cy Young award winner, who is 0-1 with a 4.61 ERA in three starts since returning from the IL. Houston's Jose Altuve is 16-for-32 with two home runs and four doubles against Hernandez, who is 4-7 with a 4.42 ERA in 14 starts against the Astros after yielding three runs in six innings of a 3-1 loss April 13.

Cole struck out 14 - one game after Verlander did the same in his no-hitter in Toronto - while permitting one run and three hits over six innings, but settled for a no-decision in Houston's 3-2 victory at Milwaukee on Tuesday. The 28-year-old Californian, who boasts a club-record 16 double-digit strikeout games this season, is 11-0 with a 2.03 ERA during his unbeaten streak. Seattle's Keon Broxton is 3-for-14 with a home run and nine strikeouts against Cole, who is 4-2 with a 2.25 ERA in seven starts versus the Mariners - 2-0, 2.08 in two turns this season.

WALK-OFFS

1. Houston CF George Springer (30 home runs) is expected back in the lineup Sunday after missing the last three games (concussion).

2. Seattle 3B Kyle Seager leads all visiting players with 14 home runs at Minute Maid Park since the Astros moved to the AL West in 2013.

3. Houston on Sunday can tie a franchise record - last matched in 1998 and set in 1980 - with its 55th home victory.

PREDICTION: Astros 6, Mariners 2

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PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels RH Jaime Barria (4-7, 6.27 ERA) vs. White Sox RH Dylan Cease (3-7, 6.75)

Barria has yet to produce a quality start in 10 tries after giving up five runs over four innings at Oakland on Tuesday. Sunday will mark his sixth consecutive start on the road, where he is 2-6 with an 8.31 ERA. The 23-year-old took the loss after giving up four runs in five innings against the White Sox in their lone meeting last year.

Cease struck out a career-high 11 over 6 2/3 innings in a no-decision at Cleveland on Tuesday. He has allowed at least one home run in each of his 11 starts and opponents are hitting a healthy .281 against the 23-year-old. Cease gave up five runs in five innings of a loss at Los Angeles last month.

WALK-OFFS

1. Angels 1B-DH Albert Pujols has hit safely in a season-high seven straight games.

2. White Sox SS Tim Anderson has seven multi-hit efforts during an eight-game hitting streak.

3. Ohtani has a home run, a triple and two doubles through the first two games of the series.

PREDICTION: Angels 6, White Sox 5

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PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers LH Daniel Norris (3-11, 4.76 ERA) vs. Athletics LH Sean Manaea (0-0, 0.00)

Norris has pitched three innings in five consecutive starts as the Tigers continue to restrict the 26-year-old Tennessee native, who was limited to 215 1/3 frames from 2016-18 because of injuries. Norris has worked 132 1/3 innings this season after going three in Detroit's 6-5 walk-off loss at Kansas City on Tuesday, and nearly had his fourth straight strong performance until Jorge Soler belted a three-run homer in the third inning. Norris is 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA in two starts against the Athletics.

Manaea received a no-decision after allowing one hit and three walks with five strikeouts in five scoreless innings of Oakland's 5-4 loss at Yankee Stadium on Sept. 1. "That's all we were looking to get from him and boy he's got to feel good about that," manager Bob Melvin told reporters about the 27-year-old Indiana native. Manaea, who won 12 games in each of the last two seasons, is 1-1 with a 3.75 ERA in two starts against Detroit.

WALK-OFFS

1. Oakland's Matt Chapman on Saturday hit his 32nd home run, equaling the club record for a third baseman set by Eric Chavez in 2001.

2. Athletics DH Mark Canha on Saturday matched a career high with four strikeouts but reached base safely for the 22nd straight game when he was hit by a pitch.

3. Oakland is 22-7 with a plus-86 run differential against the AL Central this season while Detroit is 6-26 versus the AL West and has lost 35 of its last 41 such games dating to 2018.

PREDICTION: Athletics 3, Tigers 2

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PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants RH Dereck Rodriguez (5-8, 5.15 ERA) vs. Dodgers LH Julio Urias (4-3, 2.55)

Rodriguez lost his second straight start Tuesday despite tossing seven innings of one-run ball in St. Louis. The 27-year-old son of Hall of Famer Ivan Rodriguez bounced back from a rough outing against San Diego by recording seven strikeouts and one walk versus the Cardinals. Rodriguez owns a 17.47 ERA in three career games (one start) across 5 2/3 innings versus the Dodgers.

Urias takes the mound Sunday in place of scheduled starter Walker Buehler, who is being pushed back two days and will start Tuesday in Baltimore. The 23-year-old Urias on Tuesday returned from a 20-game suspension for violating MLB’s domestic violence policy and allowed one run over three innings in a no-decision against Colorado. Brandon Belt is 3-for-10 with a home run against Urias, who is 0-2 with a 1.47 ERA in 10 career games (five starts) versus San Francisco.

WALK-OFFS

1. Giants RHP Johnny Cueto (Tommy John surgery) threw a bullpen session Saturday and could rejoin the rotation next week.

2. Dodgers INF Max Muncy (wrist) is hoping to return from the injured list Friday.

3. The Giants claimed LHP Wandy Peralta off waivers from Cincinnati and expect him to join the bullpen Monday.

PREDICTION: Dodgers 6, Giants 3

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PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies RH Peter Lambert (2-6, 7.19 ERA) vs. Padres LH Eric Lauer (8-8, 4.55)

Lambert lost his sixth straight decision after giving up six runs on eight hits over 1 2/3 innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday. “I didn’t have my A-game,” he told reporters. “They had some big hits and got it going. The season is a grind and I have to keep grinding it out.” The 22-year-old rookie, who owns a 50-to-29 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 16 starts, allowed eight runs over three frames against San Diego on June 16.

Lauer won his second straight start last Sunday, allowing four runs with a career-high nine strikeouts over six innings versus San Francisco. The 24-year-old native of Ohio has struck out 17 batters over his past two starts while throwing at least 108 pitches in both outings. Charlie Blackmon is 8-for-13 with a home run against Lauer, who is 0-3 with an 11.21 ERA in five career starts versus Colorado.

WALK-OFFS

1. San Diego has won six of its last nine meetings against the Rockies.

2. The Rockies recalled RHP Rico Garcia from Triple-A Albuquerque, giving the team 14 relievers on the active roster.

3. San Diego is hopeful that C Francisco Mejía (strained right oblique) will return before the end of the season.

PREDICTION: Padres 8, Rockies 4

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PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees RH Masahiro Tanaka (10-8, 4.42 ERA) vs. Red Sox RH Rick Porcello (12-11, 5.63)

Tanaka was a tough-luck loser against Texas on Monday, when he allowed two runs and seven hits in six innings but came out on the wrong end of a 7-0 final. The Japan native surrendered two or fewer runs in four of his last five outings and completed six innings in each of those five turns. Tanaka was not sharp at Boston on July 25, when he was ripped for 12 runs on as many hits in 3 1/3 innings to suffer the loss.

Porcello failed to complete six innings in any of his last three turns and was knocked around for six runs on eight hits (two homers) in four innings of a loss against Minnesota on Tuesday. The New Jersey native is set to be a free agent at the end of the season and is set to record an ERA of more than 5.00 for the first time in his career. Porcello was on the other end of Tanaka's tough outing July 25 and earned a win over New York while yielding three runs in six frames.

WALK-OFF

1. Red Sox SS Xander Bogaerts recorded his 1,000th career hit Saturday, becoming the third player in franchise history to reach the mark before age 27.

2. Yankees CF Aaron Hicks (elbow) suffered a setback in his recovery and could miss the rest of the season.

3. New York 3B Gio Urshela (groin) is expected to be available Sunday.

PREDICTION: Yankees 10, Red Sox 4

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ABOUT THE RAMS (2018: 13-3, FIRST IN NFC WEST): Los Angeles boasts one of the NFL’s most dynamic offenses as Jared Goff emerged as an elite quarterback in 2018, passing for 4,688 yards and 32 touchdowns to complement Gurley. Goff is surrounded by a talented receiving corps led by Robert Woods and Brandin Cooks, a pair of 1,000-yard receivers in 2018. Veterans Clay Matthews and Eric Weddle were added to a defense anchored by back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald, who led the league in sacks (20.5) and tackles for loss (25) last season.

ABOUT THE PANTHERS (2018: 7-9, THIRD IN AFC SOUTH): The fate of Carolina’s season likely rests on the health of Newton, who had shoulder surgery in the offseason. If he is able to play to his full potential, the Panthers have plenty of talent around him to put up big offensive numbers, including McCaffrey and young receivers D.J. Moore and Curtis Samuel. The defense will have a new look, featuring more 3-4 lineups, but veteran linebacker Luke Kuechly is still the centerpiece after collecting at least 100 tackles in seven straight seasons.


EXTRA POINTS

1. Carolina has won two straight season openers and four of its last five.

2. Gurley leads the NFL in yards from scrimmage (6,430), rushing yards (4,547) and touchdowns (56) since he entered the league in 2015.

3. Rams CB Marcus Peters has 22 interceptions since 2015, the most in the NFL over that stretch.


PREDICTION: Rams 27, Panthers 20